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Muscle strength and mobility in vitamin D-insufficient female geriatric patients: a randomized controlled trial on vitamin D and calcium supplementation

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Abstract

Background and aims: Insufficient vitamin D status, commonly found in older people, has been associated with muscle weakness which, in old age, impairs mobility and is a risk factor for falling. In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, we tested the hypothesis that vitamin D + calcium supplementation improves muscle strength and mobility, compared with calcium mono-therapy in vitamin D-insufficient female geriatric patients. Methods: Seventy female geriatric patients >65 years of age with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD) concentrations between 20 and 50 nmol/L, visiting an outpatient geriatric department, were included. Participants received either cholecalciferol 400 IU/day + calcium 500 mg/day (D/Cal group) or a placebo + calcium 500 mg/day (Plac/Cal group) for 6 months. At baseline and 6 months, muscle strength, power and functional mobility were tested. Results: At baseline, 25OHD was significantly (p<0.05) associated with knee extension strength (r=0.42), handgrip strength (r=0.28), leg extension power (r=0.34), Timed Get Up and Go (r=−0.31) and Modified Cooper test (r=0.44). At 6 months, a significant difference in 25OHD (77.2 vs 41.6 nmol/L, p<0.001) and 1,25OHD was found between the two groups. Significantly improving vitamin D status in the D/Cal group compared with the Plac/Cal group did not result in a significant difference in strength or functional mobility between the two groups. Conclusions: Daily 400IU vitamin D + 500 mg calcium supplementation is not enough to significantly improve strength or mobility in vitamin D-insufficient female geriatric patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500 (room B05.256), 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Hennie C. J. P. Janssen MD, Monique M. Samson & Harald J. J. Verhaar

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  1. Hennie C. J. P. Janssen MD
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  2. Monique M. Samson
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  3. Harald J. J. Verhaar
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Correspondence to Hennie C. J. P. Janssen MD.

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Janssen, H.C.J.P., Samson, M.M. & Verhaar, H.J.J. Muscle strength and mobility in vitamin D-insufficient female geriatric patients: a randomized controlled trial on vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Aging Clin Exp Res 22, 78–84 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324819

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